Nuneaton 0, Harriers 1

THE ability to win scrappy away games against relegation battling sides could be the difference between promotion success or failure and Harriers demonstrated that knack perfectly by edging a dour affair on Tuesday night.

Over the years their hopes of the Football League have been buried by mid-week defeats in the less glamorous parts of the Blue Square Bet Premier but they highlighted their ruthless side in Warwickshire.

The squad must have been listening to Hanging Tough by 90s boy band sensation New Kids on the Block as they weathered a Nuneaton assault first half before stepping it up.

A chilly February evening against a relegation battling side who were hitting some form had all the hallmarks of a potential banana skin but Steve Burr’s side defended stoutly and then took one of the game’s few chances.

“Nuneaton are fighting for their lives so stay in this division so we knew it was going to be tough,” said the Reds boss.

“I thought they were quite bright in the first half and it was just a question of us scoring and trying to add to that.

“But I am pleased again by getting three points away from home.” Nuneaton had extra energy in the first half as Harriers’ squad perhaps started to feel the affects of their recent busy fixture period, but despite the home side’s efforts they failed to truly open up the visitors.

Winger Wesley York was their dangerman on the right flank and he fired over the bar from 20-yards out. But Harriers finally found their higher gear after the break and were noisily cheered on by a massive away army of 412, who made just under half the crowd.

The turning point came mid-way through the second half, when Nuneaton midfielder Adam Walker squandered their best chance after a speedy counter-attack and swept his shot across the face of goal with just Danny Lewis to beat.

Moments later, Harriers came to life and home keeper Lee Burge was forced into a double save, parrying Josh Gowling’s header and then sticking out a hand to block substitute Ryan Rowe’s effort.

The on-loan Coventry shot-stopper was finally beaten in the 69th minute.

Mickey Demetriou’s left-foot conjured up a swirling free-kick which the young keeper did well to beat away and then amid the chaos of the ensuing scramble, he denied Anthony Malbon but could not prevent the red-hot hitman driving the ball over the line from close range at the second time of asking.

That goal saw Malbon, who has scored six times in five matches, edged ahead as Harriers’ top-scorer with 11.

Lewis was needed to keep the lead intact, diving to his left to get a hand to Simon Forsdick’s goal bound effort which had looked bound for the bottom corner. Storer nearly added a second for Harriers but his fierce free-kick smashed off the far post and richocheted away as Malbon dived in.

One goal proved to be enough as Kidderminster recorded a 14th clean sheet of the season.

While Wrexham’s 1-0 win at Barrow denied the Aggborough outfit a chance to go top, a 15th win in 17 league games took them a big step towards cementing a top five spot, especially after Forest Green’s defeat in Woking.

Harriers: Lewis 8, Vaughan 6, Demetriou 7, Storer 7, Malbon 7 (Pearson, 83), Johnson 6 (Devaney, 74), Jackman 7, Gittings 8, Morgan-Smith 6 (Rowe, 56), Dunkley 7, Gowling 7. Subs not used: Williams, N Vaughan.

Nuneaton: Burge, Phillips, McNamee, Cowan, Dean, Forsdick, York, Walker (Taylor, 77), Brown, Moult (Sleath, 83), Armson. Subs not used: Cartwright, Adams, O’Halloran. Referee: Charle Breakspear Attendance: 1087 (412)